The Land Before Terrier: Chapter one

Basically this one takes place when Beka's family had just moved in to Lord Provost's home. It is in third person, and centers around Beka, Nilo, and Will.

How not to run away

By Wasabikitty10

"Mama'll miss us, Bekky! I don't wanna go!" Said a crying three year old Nilo.

Will sighed. "Beka, do something about 'im! If he won't shut 'is gob, we're gonna get caught!"

"What am I supposed to say, cracknob?! YOU do it!" At eight, Beka was quite formiddable, not yet in her shy phase. "Well?"

"... NILO! SHUT THE HECK UP!"

"Will! That wasn't what I meant!"

Nilo began to wail harder. "I want ma!"

So. It was left up to Beka, then.

"Nilo. Quit flappin' your tongue and listen. This place, it's not meant for no Cesspool kids like us. So, we're gonna get outta here and go..." Where would they go? Oh, well. She'd figure that out later.

"Where we gonna go, Bekky? Where?"

"Somewhere really fun. Now, our sisters, they're loobys. They think stayin' is good. But us-" Beka stopped to count. "-twenny? Five? Two? Yeah, two- Us two are too brave to stay here!"

"Well, if ya give me sommat what ya owe me..."

Will hit himself in the face. I should never have taught him about money...

"Fine. We'll give ya what we owe you." Beka said. Will groaned. I owe 'im so much, though...

"Beka? How're we gonna get this loot?"

After thinking a moment, she replied, "Trust me."

At the city square about 30 minutes later:

Three strange looking figures bent over in a small alley.

"THIS is your plan?! You expect me-"

"Shut yer gob, Will."

"I need help puttin' mine on, Bekky!"

"Fine, Nilo. But be quiet."

Another 30 minutes later:

"We'll tell yer fortune! Tell yer fortune!" Three old crones wandered throughout the busy square. So far they had collected several coppers, due to the pity people felt for the old bundles of rags.

"It's workin, Bek!" cried her happy brother.

Things were going great. Beka was richer than ever before. And of course she would give some to her brothers. If they were good. Maybe.

Anyway, the plan was running smoothly untill a pigeon landed in front of them.

"I killed her, I did. Killed her in her sleep. Was her own fault too. She was bloody, from head to toe, bloody..."

"AUGH! AUGH! AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!" Beka had heard pigeons speak before, but this was the most violent one she had ever heard. Forgetting her disguise, she stood up her full heght instead of standing hunched over. The hood of her costume slid back.

Before the dogs guarding the square could recognize his older sister, Will threw himself over her. Nilo, instead of doing the sensible thing(Taking the money somewhere safe and staying hidden untill Beka and Will found him), he curled up in a little ball and screamed like a newborn baby. The three of them lay in a heap, dusty and dazed. A dog came up to them, and taking little Nilo's face in his hands, said, "Hey, Milord Provost! We found the 'rats' you was lookin' for!"

"Don't arrest us, sir! Please!" Will tried to look as innocent as a six and a half year old can look when covered in muck and lying on stolen coppers.

"I'm jest gonna take ya back home."

After all their hard work running away, and they had to go back?! Well. Beka opened her mouth to complain, and then closed it. If she went back, she could take a bath.

And as she found out, when you are covered in street filth and tried to run away from Lord Provost, a bath is pretty dang nice.

THE ENDE